Journal-box and roller-bearing for railway-car axles.



No. 700,|79.- Patented May 20, I902 E. F. CROWTHER. JOURNAL BOX ANDROLLER BEARING FOB RAILWAY CAB. AXLES.

(Application filed Aug. 2'6, 1901. I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

if; 1".i1ii'1l'fig'"? I Jizwwr ,H. d v m 6. x1 9 1 1 14$: 1, \l E WW \M;im\ 3 5 a. w 7% pm. 700,179. I Patented Mayv20, I902;

I E. F. snowmen. JOURNAL BOX ANDRULLER BEARING FUR RAILWAY CAB AXLESL I(Application filed Aug. 26, 1901.) (No IlqdeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11- I JJjizwzzfazf @mzwmwzm UNI-TED STATES PAT NT @FFICE.

FEDGA'RYF. oRoWTnER, or VICKSBURG,lllISSISSIPPI.

[JOURNAL-BOX AND ROLLER-BEARING FOR RA|L WA Y-CAR AXLES.

srnorrrcarron forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,179, dated May 20,1902.

' Application filed August 26, 1901. Serial No. 731,332." on model.)

for its object to provide a simple,-durable,,

and efficient device of the character referred to wherein friction andwear willbe reduced to a minimum and from-which dust,- grit, and

the like will be eflectually excluded; v

To these ends my invention consists in the 1 featuresand in theconstruction, combination, and "arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed,- and particularly pointed out in the claims following thedescription, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, wherein a Figure l i's a view in sideelevation of my improved box and bearing. Fig. 2 is a transverseverticalsectional View thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinalsectional View of the same. Fig. 4 is an end View, a portion of the endcap being broken-away. Fig. 5 is a de tail sectional View taken on theline 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. (5 is a vertical central sectional View of thejournal-box, the journal, rollers, and sleeve being removed. Fig. 7 is atop plan view of the lower half-box. Fig.8 is a vertical longitudinalcentralsectional viewof the upper half-box. Fig. 9 is a detailperspective View illustrating two abutting portions'of the twohalf-boxes.

tracti'ble sleeve, the sections the'reofbeing shown separated; Fig. 11is an end View thereof; and Fig12 is an enlarged detail view' showingthe relative'arrangementof the-journal, rollers, and'sleeve.

Referring-to the d'rawings, the numeral 1- indicates 'arailwaycar axlewhich is providedat its opposite ends with enlargements-5,-

(most clearly shown in Fig. 12 of the drawanother, "excepting radially;

v Fig. 10 is a ve'r-- tical longitudinal sectional view of the conings,)having concave shoulders 6. Disposed around and in contact with therollers 4 is a series-of antifriction-rollers 7, said rollersbeing'preferably of greater diameter than the rollers l, and'eac'h isprovided'with rounded ends 8. Surrounding the outer series of rollers 7is a sectional contractible'sleeve consisting of a plurality'ofsegmental sections 9, provided on their. adjacent or meeting edges withtapered or approximately wedgeshaped tongues 10,.the tonguesbeing soarranged that the tonguesofone section project into thespa'ces betweenthe "tongues 'on'the adjacent sections, or, in other'words, the adjacenttongues loosely interlock, whereby said sections areimmovablerelativelyto one The ends of each of the sections 9 are providedwithinwardly-projecting concave shoulders 11, that overhang the. roundedends of the rollers 7. The relative dimensionsof the sections 9 andtheir tongueslO are such' that the ends of the tongues'never con factwith the'bottoms of the spaces between the adjacent tongues under anycircumstances. As shownmost clearly in Fig. 12 of the drawingsytherounded ends of the rollers 7 and the'concave shoulders '6 and 11 areformed on the arcsof difierent-civ cles, whereby the instant saidrounded-ends and concave shoulders commence to deviate from a straightline they diverge from one another, and'thus do not normally contact.The concave shoulders 6' at'thebuter ends of. the

rollers 4 overhang .tlie'roundededgeti of the outer end'of' t'heaxle,*an'd th'e' shoulders on the inner ends of said rollersproject intothe circumferential groove 2 of the axle, whereby 'the sai'd rollerstare held against end move- ;ment. The rounded ends Sfof thef rol lers 7are 'c'onfinedbetween "the" concave shoulders .6 of the rollers and the'concave shoulders 11 of the contractible 's'leev'e{ and are th us-heldagainst end movement.

The roller-bearing, constructed as above described, is inclosed within ajournal-box con= 'structed-as follows I-nclosing the bearing are twoapproximately rectangular metallic halfboxes 12 and 13, provided ontheir adjacent faces with semicylindrical recesses 14, which areconfined at their ends between inwardlyprojecting semi-annular flanges15, formed integrally with the ends of the boxes. The re cesses 14 formseats for the reception of the contractible sleeve, the rollers, and theaxle. Formed on the inner face of the upper halfbox 12 and parallel withthe recess 14 therein are two longitudinalgrooves 16, which in practiceare filled with cotton or other suitable .fibrous material, andpreferably a suitable quantity of tar is placed in said grooves beforethe cotton is inserted therein. On the adjacent face of the otherhalf-box 13 are formed two projecting serrated or toothed ribs 17, whichproject into the grooves 16 and hold the packing and effectually preventits dis placement. Endless rectangular grooves 18 are formed in theopposite ends of each of the half-boxes and in practice are also packedwith cotton and tar in the same manner as the grooves 10. Fitted overthe opposite ends of the two half-boxes 12 and 13 are end caps 19 and20, each consisting of a flat rectangular plate that fits flush againstthe ends of the half-boxes, and formed on the inner face of each of saidplates is an endless rectangular projecting serrated or toothed rib 21,that projects into the adjacent endless groove 18 and engages thepacking therein and holds it securely against displacement. The caps 19and 20 are tightly clamped against the ends of the half-boxes 12 and 13by bolts and nuts 22 and 23. The upper and lower portions of the grooves18 are made of such width that the ribs 21 fit loosely thereon in orderthat the two half-boxes may have a limited movement toward and away fromone another, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The inner end cap 19is provided centrally with a circular aperture 24, through which theaxle 1 passes, and the wailof said aperture is provided with an internalannular groove 25, in the bottom of which are formed thin transverseribs or webs 26. and tar are packed in said groove, the ribs 26 engagingthe cotton and preventing its displacement. As before stated, the endcaps 19 and 20 are clamped and held in place by bolts 22, and said boltspass through longitudinal grooves 27, formed in the adjacent faces ofthe two half-boxes parallel with the recesses 14. Each of said groovesis slightly greater than a semicircle in cross-section and are sodisposed that the grooves of one halfbox register with those of theother half-box to form passages for the reception of the bolts, and bymaking the said passages slightly larger than the bolts, in the mannerdescribed, the half-boxes are permitted to have a limited movementtoward and from one another.

The two half-boxes l2 and 13 are adj ustably secured together in thefollowing manner: Formed on the inner adjacent edges of each of thehalf-boxes is a plurality of vertically-projecting lugs 28, formedequidistant apart and each provided with a transverse horizontal slot29. The lugs on one half-box are so disposed that they alternate withthe lugs on the otherhalf-boxthat is to say, the

(See Fig. 4.) Cottonlugs break joints with one another,where- 4 by whenthe two half-boxes are assembled together the lugs interlock, or thelugs of one half-box project between the lugs of the other half-box, andto permit such interlocking the inner edge of each half-box is recessed0r mortised between the lugs 28, as at 30, to permit the ends of thelugs on one half-box to project into the recesses or mortises of theother half-box. are in place, the slots 29 of one series of lugsregister with the slots of the corresponding series of lugs, and looselyfitted in the slots are tapered or wedge-shaped keys 31, each of whichis provided at its smaller end with a threaded tenon 32, over which isscrewed a nut 33. (See Fig. 6.) Arranged on the tenons between said nutsand the adjacentlugs 28 are coiled springs 34. It will be manifest thatby screwing up the nuts 33 the tapered keys will be moved eudwise in theslotted lugs and bearing against the outer walls of the slots in theseveral lugs will draw the two half-boxes together. At the same time thesprings 31 will be compressed and will continually operate to draw thekeys tighter in the slots. Hence as fast as any wear occurs on any ofthe parts the springs will antomatically act to draw the half-boxes together tighter to compensate for such wear. The outer end cap 20 isprovided with two ports or apertures 35 and 36, (see Fig. 1,) the port35 being for the introduction of lubricant and the port 36 forming avent for the escape of air during the operation of lubricating thebearing.

In practice the parts are loosely assembled together on the axle in thepositions described,

and the nuts 33 are screwed up tight, drawing the two half-boxes'firmlytoward one another, thus contracting the sectional sleeve about therollers and confining the latterin place. The screws 23 are thentightened up, tightly clamping the end caps against the ends of thehalf-boxes.

By forming the rollers 4 and 7 in the manner described the enlarged ends6 of the roll ers 4 overhang the rounded outer end of the axle andengage the groove 2 in the latter and prevent endwise movement of saidrollers. Said enlarged ends 6 and the concave shoulders 11 of thecontractible sleeve also overhang the rounded ends of the rollers 7 andhold the latter against end movement. As before described, however, thesaid rounded ends and concave shoulders diverge from one another, andhence they are not normally in contact and generate no friction. Thedescribed packing surrounds the bearing on all sides and effectuallyprevents the entrance of dust, grit, and the like. When the parts arefirst assembled, lubricant is poured into the bearing in the mannerdescribed, and the ports 35 and 36 are then plugged up. As fast as anywear occurs the springs 34 automatically operate to draw together thehalf-boxes and contractible sleeve and tighten up the When the twohalf-boxes aroundand contacting With the first-named series and havingrou nded ends lyin gbetween parts of the bearing to compensate for suchwear.

rollers provided with conical recesses in their ends. These recesses arefor the reception of pins that form part of an implement 'for assemblingthe rollers in the boxing and form 'no part of the present invention,the same being included in a separate application for their oppositeends which overhang the round-' ed end of the axle and engage saidcircumferential groove, said concave shoulders di-' verging from theadjacent portions of the axle, and-a casing'inclosing said rollers,substantially as described.

2. The combination with a railway-car axle having a circumferentialgroove near its end and having the edge of its end'rounded, of a seriesof rollers arranged around the axle and having enlarged concaveshoulders at their opposite I ends which overhang the rounded end of theaxle and engage said circum forential groove, a second series of rollersarranged the enlarged concave shoulders of the firstmentioned rollers,said rounded ends and concave shoulders diverging from one another, anda casing inclosing said rollers,

substantially as described. I

3; The combinationwith a railway-car axle having a circumferentialgroove near its end and having the edge of its'end rounded, of a seriesof rollers arrangedaround the axle and having enlarged concave shouldersat their opposite ends which overhang the rounded endof the axle andengage said circumferential groove, a second series of rollers arrangedaround and contacting with the first named series andhaving roundedends'lying between the concave shoulders of the first-" named' rollers,and a contractible sleeve inclosing said rollers and provided within-Wardly-projecting concave shoulders on its opposite ends which overhangthe rounded ends ofthe outer rollers; said rounded ends and concaveshoulders diverging from one another, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a railway-car axle' having a circumferentialgroove near its end and having the edge of its end rounded, of a Vseries of rollers arrangedaroun'd the axle and having enlarged concaveshouldersat their opposite ends which overhang'the rounded end of theaxle and engage said circumferential groove, a second series of rollersarrangedaround and contacting-with the firstnamed series and havingrounded ends lying In Fig. 12 of the drawings I have shown thebetweenthe concave shoulders of the firstnamed rollers, and a contractiblesleeve in closing said rollers and comprising a plurality of segmentalsections providedon their adjacent edges with interlocking tongues, theends of said sections havingiinWardly-projectingconcave shouldersoverhanging the rounded ends of-the outer rollers, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with arailway-car axle, of a plurality of rollersarranged around the axle, acontractible sleeve surrounding said rollersand comprising a plurality of segmental sections provided on' theiradjacent journal-box'inclosing said sleeve, and means for clamping saidtwo i part box about the sleeve, substantially as described.

. 6. The combination with a railway-car axle, of a journ al-box mountedon the axle and comedges withinterlocking tongues, a two-part prisingtwo half-boxes, said half-boxes'being provided on their inneradjacentedges'with" vertically-projecting and interlocking slotted lugs;tapered keys loosely fitted in said slotted lugs, means for adjustingsaid keys end-' wisein said lugs to draw the half-boxes'together, andmeans for yieldingly holding said keys in their adjusted positionswhereby they will'be automatically tightened-in said lugs tocompensatefor Wear of the parts, substantially. as' described.

7. The combination with a railway-car axle,

of a j ournal boxmounted onthe axle and com prising tWohalf-boxesprovided on their inner adjacent edges with vertically project ing andinterlocking slotted lugs, tapered keys. fitted" loosely in saidslottedlugsand provided at their smaller ends with threaded 'tenons,nuts screwed oversaid tenons, and

coiled'springs arrangedon said tenons-between said nuts and the adjacentlugs, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination with a railway-car axle, of a journal-box mounted onthe axle andcom prising two half-boxes provided on" their ad-' j acentedges with vertically-projecting slotted" lugs, thelugs of one half-boxloosely fitting between thecorresponding' lugs'of the other box, andsaidin'ner adjacentjedges 'ofth'e' boxes being mortiscdu'pon'itheir'in'ner sides 1 between the lugs for thereception'of theends of the opposing lugs, tapered keys fitted in the slotted lugs,means for adj ustingsaid' keys endwiseinthe lugs to draw the half-boxestog'ether, and springs'arranged toautomatically draw said keys tightlytotheir seats in the lugs to compensate for wear of the parts,substantially as described.

9. The combination with a railway-car axle,

of a j ournal box'mounted on the axle and comprising'two half-boxesprovided with means f for clamping them' about the axle, the inner faceof one of'said half-boxes'being provided with longitudinal grooves nearitsedges for the reception ofa fibrous packing and theinner-face of'the'other half-box being'provided with longitudinal serrated ribsarranged to project into said grooves and engage and hold the packingagainst displacement, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a railway-car axle, of a journal-box mounted onthe axle and comprising two half-boxes provided with means for clampingthem about the axle, said half-boxes being provided on their adjacentfaces with semicylindrical recesses for the reception of a sleeve and attheir ends with inwardly-projecting semi-annular flanges inclosing saidsleeve, the inner face of one of said boxes being provided withlongitudinal grooves for the reception of a fibrous packing, and theinner face of the other half-box being provided with longitudinalserrated ribs arranged to project into said grooves and engage and holdthe packing, and antifrictionrollers arranged in the box between saidflanges, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a railway-car axle, of a journal-box comprisingtwo halfboxes provided with means for clamping them about the axle, saidhalf-boxes being provided on their opposite ends with continuous groovesfor the reception of fibrous packing, and end caps fitted against theends of the half-boxes and provided on their inner faces with serratedribs projecting into said grooves and engaging and holding the packingtherein, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a railwaycar axle, of a journal-box comprisingtwo halfboxes provided with means for clamping them about the axle, endcaps clamped against the ends of the half-boxes, the outer end cap beingimperforate and the inner end cap being provided centrally with anaperture for the reception of the axle, the wall of said aperture beingprovided with an internal annular groove for the reception of fibrouspacking, and transverse ribs formed in the bottom of said groove,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDGAR.F. CROWTIIER. Witnesses:

GEO. W. REA, 0. D. KESLER.

